East Dundee, already known for its summertime street events, St. Patrick’s Day revelry and weekly outdoor market, is stepping into Thanksgiving territory Wednesday with the debut of the Kegs & Legs street party.
“I am so excited about this event because we have a wonderful downtown area that is perfect for the biggest party night before the holiday,” East Dundee Trustee Tricia Saviano said. “This is our first event of this size created by the businesses and not the village.”
Meier Street will be closed to traffic from 11 a.m. to midnight Nov. 27 for a street party being staged and paid for by establishments that line the roadway, including Tequila Val’s, Diamond Jim’s Tavern and Gas Grill and Foxy’s Hideaway, a new martini and wine bar expected to officially open sometime in December.
Diamond Jim’s owner Joe Condo said the event is an extension of the Black Wednesday Kegs & Legs party he’s held on his pub’s patio since 2018.
“This year, we decided to partner with our new neighbor, Tequila Val’s (occupying the former Anvil Club space), which is owned by the people who own Maple & Hash in West Dundee and Foxy’s Hideaway, which my wife, Ana, will be operating,” Condo said.
He and Tequila Val’s owner Colin Hegarty have been planning the large outdoor gathering since August.
“The night before Thanksgiving remains one of the biggest nights for bar businesses,” Hegarty said. “It’s a time when people come home and reconnect with family and friends. So this event is our way to put on a good show for the community. It should be a great day.”
Condo said Meier Street will be tented off, with the pavement used to stage bands, a booth selling turkey legs, beer trucks, and satellite stations serving craft cocktails and other libations.
Live music will be provided by country rock band Strawdawg, ’80s cover act Fast Times, The Boy Band Night and disco-centric Libido Funk Circus.
Turkey legs will be baked then finished in a fryer inside his pub, Condo said. They’ll be served in the tent or from his restaurant, which — like Tequila Val’s — will be have a fully staffed kitchen and complete menu all night, he said.
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Because of the setup, patrons will be able to move freely throughout the tented area and can obtain wristbands that will allow them to come and go as they want, Condo said. That should help boost business at other downtown bars and restaurants, he said.
Because there’s limited downtown parking and the expectation that people will be drinking, Condo is urging attendees to designate a sober driver or use cabs/rideshares for transportation.
He’s also hoping the East Dundee event can replicate some of the success nearby Huntley has found with its annual Black Friday Turkey Testicle Festival. That event has been held at the Parkside Pub in Huntley for more than 40 years and draws thousands of people annually.
As of this week, 500 tickets had already been sold to Kegs & Legs, and Condo said expected another 500 or so would be attending. Tickets are $20 in advance and at the door.
“As this is our first year, we worked to make it affordable. We hope people come here to have a good time,” Condo said.
Mike Danahey is a freeland reporter for The Courier-News.